Exercising with Autism- product

Looks like you had some good waves that day!

Both of us ND & both living the dream 

Good to see it too!

I’m gutted that we can’t upload vids here :(

Yeah, the pic was pretty cool though!

I’m gutted that we can’t upload vids here :(

Here’s me and my friend living the dream last Thursday :) 

Both of us ND & both living the dream 

Marzo is a marvel to watch. It's like he's got magnets stuck on him in this video. Board turning round, half his balance leaning into the water, and a wave to contend with.

Around the 0:40 - 0:60 mark on the video, he almost breaks the laws of reality. Gravity mastered!

https://youtu.be/mQXxdMB91Cs

I'm not saying autistic people don't struggle with balance and co-ordination. Marzo says he feels more comfortable on water than land, he struggles more there!

Great to see someone living their dream too!

Even though the best surfer in the world today is autistic. :)

Why has no one mentioned that people with Autism can have problems with balance and co-ordination? and that for those, exercise can be extremely challenging, will your studies also be looking at these factors?

Hi I read your post and I think it's really awesome. I am an autistic powerlifter, I started weight lifting 2.5 years ago because I had been self harming since a child and nothing I had tried including medication worked. I am now competing this year in my first powerlifting competition. I have found weight lifting really helpful in managing my autism and it gives me the ability to cope better with life. I believe it might help more people with autism as weight lifting itself is repetitive, solitary and structured. The biggest problem is finding a autism friendly gym and I have only recently found a gym that is quiet and not very busy. Since I have been weight lifting I have not self harmed.

No problem Blank! Yeah, it would have been easier for everyone.

I am never confused, really :-) But I hadn't noticed the upvoting so thanks for pointing that out to me!

I agree clarification would have been better.

If I've made assumptions about the posters motives being cynical, you've made assumptions about their motives being altruistic.

qwerty said:

A lot of ASD people complain a lot about how neurotypical people make many stereotypical judgement about them without knowing them, but sadly, I think it happens a lot the other way around as well, ASD people make assumptions about neurotypical people without gathering enough information as well.

If you've read my posts, I barely ever make stereotypical assumptions about "neurotypical" people. My attitude is that 99% of people are supposedly "neurotypical", and if I view 99% of society as "other", that makes the world a pretty daunting place. I've said it before it's fine to be "neurotypical", and it's fine to be autistic. It's not fine to be a ***. You are making an assumption that my motives are about the issue of the "neurotypical bogeyman". People are just people to me. There's good and bad in everyone. I've said it before, if you replaced "neurotypical" with a race, gender, or sexual orientation, some of the posts here would read quite bigoted. You are making a stereotypical judgement yourself. 

I think the mentality you are promoting is admirable though.

qwerty said:

I think it's perfectly OK to not take the survey, but assuming it's a cynical motive is quite unfair.

Why? Because being cynical has negative connotations? Assuming it's altruistic is also unfair, just because it has positive connotations doesn't mean that it automatically is a correct conclusion by default. Logically, that's just as presumptuous.

qwerty said:

I'm still in the very long waiting list for a diagnostic assessment, so I probably wouldn't be eligible to fill in the survey yet.

So you really have no dog in the fight, as to say. I would really let the people who are eligible make their mind up. I'm not saying you aren't on the spectrum, and your choice not to take the survey due to not yet filling the criteria is also admirable. 

If you look, I haven't said at any time that no-one else should or shouldn't take the survey. I've been told to "just take the survey", and that what I've said is baseless, countered only with baseless assumptions. The OP should be the one explaining their position. They still seem to be here, but have taken to upvoting comments defending them, encouraging people to do their job, rather than doing the honourable thing, and replying to my last comment toward them. Maybe they had no explaination or defence.

They have supposedly abided by the rules, but it would have been safer for the more vulnerable users if they didn't have to recieve the survey by PM. It's probably safer if anything here of this nature is kept in the open.

The forum has rules, but a lot of people here just don't like surveys, research, and general spam. There have been scammers here, and some pretty bad ones at that. Most people aren't too keen on this kind of stuff.

I thought I'd address you directly as your post addresses my posts, and you seem to think I've been unfair.

I'm not attacking you, I'm addressing the points that you took issue with, and explaining my position on some things you raised yourself. I mean you no ill will.

Blank said:

Who is confused? Me?

You weren't but I think now you are. If you look I quoted you first, and then I quoted the other poster. Specifically saying to them "You seem confused". They have upvoted your comment, rather than taking the opportuntity to clarify this. Even if they didn't reply to me, they could have let you know, rather than just upvoting your comment that was obviously a misunderstanding. Not cool.

I have to agree with Blank (NAS38983) here. The poster is following all of the rules, she took the link off the forum and sent an email request to NAS. I'm quite sure it's just a school project. It's actually not uncommon for university students to post on forums (you can find research requests for neurotypical people in forums dominated by neurotypical people). Another reason I don't think it's for marketing profits is that companies would have much more money to recruit massively (e.g., using online surveys that can pay participants money, like Amazon Turk). And if it were really just for marketing a label, there would be no need for any research, all you need is a label (i.e., you can market 'swimming trunks for the blind' without any research surveys). I think it's a nice idea to try to find out what gyms can do to make it more ASD-friendly. I agree that some exercises are more difficult for people with ASD, like some gyms could be humid and smell bad, and it's hard to play sports they require multiple players because you need lots of friends, etc. There are also products that do help a lot of people with ASD, like squeeze vests or heavy weighted blankets, which target sensory issues many people with ASD have, so I'm not against a new product. A lot of ASD people complain a lot about how neurotypical people make many stereotypical judgement about them without knowing them, but sadly, I think it happens a lot the other way around as well, ASD people make assumptions about neurotypical people without gathering enough information as well. I think it's perfectly OK to not take the survey, but assuming it's a cynical motive is quite unfair. 

I'm still in the very long waiting list for a diagnostic assessment, so I probably wouldn't be eligible to fill in the survey yet. But cleversweet1, you might be interested in this website. It's specific for university researchers to post surveys and experiments advertisements on. 
www.callforparticipants.com/

Who is confused? Me?(because I am not, and I thought the survey was interesting for myself. Gave me food for thought and I like giving my opinion especially if someone else can put it to use.)

Blank said:

It's maybe more aimed at what gyms can do to attract or keep autistic people. And they could do a lot!

For example, if they could do something about when to change equipment, the music, maybe calm hours etc.

Cleversweet said that it is only for her personal use in a university project, and not for commercial use. So it won't be used for such a thing by her own admission.

cleversweet1 said:

With this survey, I'm researching exercise habits at home and at the gym, there's a greater focus for at home equipment use, as many individuals don't enjoy the busy nature of the gym, but i am also contacting special needs schools for feedback of their equipment, and parents of children with autism. The reason why i've just said 'exercise' is because as part of primary research  i'm exploring all these aspects, and due to ethics i cannot ask very specific questions. From feedback I receive, I will be able to be more specific.

That's how market reseach usually works. Start with a broad line of questioning, then narrow the questions down until you get the product you intend to market. Seems strange to follow market research for a product that will have no use outside of your project. Useless to the Autistic Community, that's a pity.

You seem confused.

Thank you for your help, this is great feedback! I have updated it now, so if you can edit your response if you'd like. 

With this survey, I'm researching exercise habits at home and at the gym, there's a greater focus for at home equipment use, as many individuals don't enjoy the busy nature of the gym, but i am also contacting special needs schools for feedback of their equipment, and parents of children with autism. The reason why i've just said 'exercise' is because as part of primary research  i'm exploring all these aspects, and due to ethics i cannot ask very specific questions. From feedback I receive, I will be able to be more specific.

It's maybe more aimed at what gyms can do to attract or keep autistic people. And they could do a lot!

For example, if they could do something about when to change equipment, the music, maybe calm hours etc.

That could really work!

cleversweet1 said:

If you read the first line: Product Design Engineering student

That doesn't negate the second line.

cleversweet1 said:

My brother has autism, which has inspired me to develop a home product to help individuals on the Autism Spectrum with exercising.

Lots of students have invented successful products as a part of a degree. The passenger plane toilet was one such thing.

Blank said:

Just take the questionnaire because it is not what you apparently think it is.

I wasn't intending on taking it.

Blank said:

You're taking it the wrong way (not meant meanly).

I didn't think you were being mean. Neither am I. I just don't see how a product with such a nebulous term as "exercise" can be beneficial to an autistic consumer. I've mentioned my reasons. I don't mean you any ill will.

Just take the questionnaire because it is not what you apparently think it is. You're taking it the wrong way (not meant meanly).

It's a short, clear and harmless survey.